Believe in Christ. Believe Christ, and Believe in yourself.

September 12, 2016

Today might be a shorter email. Mostly because I've spent all my email time reading emails from Utah fans who seem pretty excited over some extracurricular activities this past weekend ;)

Despite some disappointing news Sunday morning, this has been a really great week.

Highlights-

        We had a baptism on Saturday for Eduardo. Since Spanish missionaries have been put into Astoria, he is the very first to be baptized. He doesn't speak any English so Elder Flynn translates for him all three hours of Church. He got baptized on his 50th birthday and spent that entire morning at stake day of service doing yard work with the rest of the stake. He is a former soccer coach and player, and all around he is just the man!

        On Tuesday we had zone conference, which was really good. President McAteer talked about faith and its importance. Then the stake president’s first counselor took my comp and me out for burgers and talked about the power of believing, then a high councilman came to our ward on Sunday and addressed the importance of believing Christ. Three similar but separate topics that really inspired me this week.

Thursday I went down to Seaside on exchanges and had a blast! Elder Beals (my companion for the day) ran track for Riverton in high school so we work up early and had a loooong run on the beach. There was a car show in town so we also got to see some cool cars that day ( honestly I don't really care about cars but according to Elder Beals it was a good show). 

Sunday we had Eduardo's confirmation during sacrament and a packed day afterward. We had to cancel appointments we were so booked, and even so we were running to and from the car. The coolest appointment was the last one of the night. We were doing the new member discussions with Devon when his mom came in and talked about the doctrine of our church and the bible for like 20 minutes. Granted, most of the stuff she said was trying to prove an antagonistic point, but she actually talked to us about church stuff. If this isn't an example of the Lord's ability to soften someone's heart, idk what is. For over a year missionaries weren't even allowed into Devon's house and now his mom is joking around with us about what she believes.

Life is great here in Astoria. My comp and I get along sooo well. (Not to be read sarcastically). The gospel is true. Believe in Christ. Believe Christ, and believe in yourself.

We all fail at living the full celestial level. That’s why we need a Savior. The Lord says, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” (Matt. 5:6.) We frequently misinterpret that verse. We think it means “Blessed are the righteous.” It does not. When are you hungry? When are you thirsty? When you don’t have the object of your desire. It is those who don’t have the righteousness that God has—but who hunger and thirst after it—who are blessed, for if that is the desire of their hearts, the Lord will help them achieve it.

Fall is beautiful in Astoria. 

Love you,

Elder Thomas